Page 135 - ANNA KARENINA

Anna Karenina

Chapter 18

Vronsky followed the guard to the carriage, and at the
door of the compartment he stopped short to make room
for a lady who was getting out.
With the insight of a man of the world, from one
glance at this lady’s appearance Vronsky classified her as
belonging to the best society. He begged pardon, and was
getting into the carriage, but felt he must glance at her
once more; not that she was very beautiful, not on
account of the elegance and modest grace which were
apparent in her whole figure, but because in the
expression of her charming face, as she passed close by
him, there was something peculiarly caressing and soft. As
he looked round, she too turned her head. Her shining
gray eyes, that looked dark from the thick lashes, rested
with friendly attention on his face, as though she were
recognizing him, and then promptly turned away to the
passing crowd, as though seeking someone. In that brief
look Vronsky had time to notice the suppressed eagerness
which played over her face, and flitted between the
brilliant eyes and the faint smile that curved her red lips. It
was as though her nature were so brimming over with

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